Partners: Education Law Center, Health Sciences Library Consortium, PA School Librarians Association
Events: RELEASE OF RESEARCH FINDINGS—STATEWIDE INFORMATION BRIEFINGS:
Pennsylvania’s New School Library Impact Study on Student Achievement
Join us for the release of findings of the Pennsylvania school library impact study on student achievement conducted by Keith Curry Lance and his associates. “Supporting the Infrastructure Needs of 21st Century School Library Programs” has been an Institute of Museum and Library Science National Leadership Grant project. The year-long project examined the investments in school library programs needed to prepare 21st century learners and the perceptions of administrators, teachers, librarians, and other interested stakeholders.
Attend one of the following events to receive printed research materials and engage with a panel of project participants. Administrators, school board members, teachers, librarians, parents, community members, education organizations, and other stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to attend. More information can be found by visiting the project website at PA School Library Project.
Project Steering Committee: Debra Kachel, Mary Kay Biagini, Sandra Zelno, Brett Schaeffer, Nancy Potter, Joseph Scorza, and Keith Curry Lance
DATA FROM PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION SURVEYS
In 2011-2012, 198 PA schools (7%) eliminated or severely curtailed library services to their students.
In 2012-2013, 117.5 librarian positions were eliminated (5.8% decrease)
DATA FROM ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL LIBRARIAN SURVEYS
In Philadelphia, 83% of schools do not have a library staffed by a certified librarian.
There are only 12 certified librarians for Philadelphia’s 169 elementary schools.
There are only 3 certified librarians for Philadelphia’s 23 middle schools
It is now common for a Philadelphia public school student to go through elementary and middle school without ever having access to a certified school librarian.
Education Law Center Press Release October 23, 2012
New PA Study Shows Full-time School Librarian Boosts Student AchievementPSSA Reading and Writing Scores Raised for All Student Groups
PHILADELPHIA — Having access to a full-time, certified school librarian means better outcomes for Pennsylvania’s public school students, according to new research from the Colorado-based RSL Research Group.The researchers examined the 2010-11 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests in Reading and Writing for students in grades three through 11, and tracked outcomes for students based on five school library factors: staffing, collections, digital resources and technology infrastructure, library access, and funding. Overall, the greatest impact on student test scores was seen from having a full-time, certified librarian.
• Students who have access to a full-time, certified librarian scored higher on the PSSA Reading Test than those students who do not have such access. This finding is true for all students, regardless of their socio-economic, racial/ethnic, and/or disability status.
• For several student groups that tend to experience achievement gaps—economically disadvantaged, Hispanic, Black, and those with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs)—Reading and Writing results are markedly better when those students attend a school with a librarian and library support staff, according to the research. In fact, they benefit more proportionally than the general student population.
This summer of group of school librarians worked on writing the Model Curriculum for School Library Programs. The writing team examinedPA Common Core English Language Arts, Reading and Writing in Science and Technical Subjects, Reading and Writing in History and Social Studies and Academic Standards Business, Computer and Technology. The writing team selected the attached list of standards as the basis for the curriculum. This information is being shared with the administrators at four conferences. First conference is Pennsylvania School Boards Association and Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. The next conference will be the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. In November the PSLA will distributing the model curriculum information at the Pennsylvania Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. Cathi Fuhrman and Eileen Kern will be presenting a session at the SAS Institute in December.
More information about the curriculum will be available on the Model Curriculum Website.
It is important that you review the attached document so you can be part of the conversation with your administrators.
Visit the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association at http://www.psla.org/
PSLA Annual Conference Information: http://www.psla.org/professional-development/annual-conference/PSLA Model Curriculum Information: http://www.psla.org/professional-development/model-curriculum/
PSLA Conference Wiki: http://pslaconf.wikispaces.com/
Not a member of PSLA? Click here to learn more about joining this wonderful network of PA Librarians! http://www.psla.org/membership/membership-information/
New PA Impact Study Research Briefing
Partners: Education Law Center, Health Sciences Library Consortium, PA School Librarians Association
Events: RELEASE OF RESEARCH FINDINGS—STATEWIDE INFORMATION BRIEFINGS:
Pennsylvania’s New School Library Impact Study on Student Achievement
Join us for the release of findings of the Pennsylvania school library impact study on student achievement conducted by Keith Curry Lance and his associates. “Supporting the Infrastructure Needs of 21st Century School Library Programs” has been an Institute of Museum and Library Science National Leadership Grant project. The year-long project examined the investments in school library programs needed to prepare 21st century learners and the perceptions of administrators, teachers, librarians, and other interested stakeholders.
Attend one of the following events to receive printed research materials and engage with a panel of project participants. Administrators, school board members, teachers, librarians, parents, community members, education organizations, and other stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to attend. More information can be found by visiting the project website at PA School Library Project.
Project Steering Committee: Debra Kachel, Mary Kay Biagini, Sandra Zelno, Brett Schaeffer, Nancy Potter, Joseph Scorza, and Keith Curry Lance
DATA FROM PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION SURVEYS
In 2011-2012, 198 PA schools (7%) eliminated or severely curtailed library services to their students.
DATA FROM ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL LIBRARIAN SURVEYS
In Philadelphia, 83% of schools do not have a library staffed by a certified librarian.
Education Law Center Press Release October 23, 2012
New PA Study Shows Full-time School Librarian Boosts Student AchievementPSSA Reading and Writing Scores Raised for All Student Groups
PHILADELPHIA — Having access to a full-time, certified school librarian means better outcomes for Pennsylvania’s public school students, according to new research from the Colorado-based RSL Research Group.The researchers examined the 2010-11 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests in Reading and Writing for students in grades three through 11, and tracked outcomes for students based on five school library factors: staffing, collections, digital resources and technology infrastructure, library access, and funding. Overall, the greatest impact on student test scores was seen from having a full-time, certified librarian.
• Students who have access to a full-time, certified librarian scored higher on the PSSA Reading Test than those students who do not have such access. This finding is true for all students, regardless of their socio-economic, racial/ethnic, and/or disability status.
• For several student groups that tend to experience achievement gaps—economically disadvantaged, Hispanic, Black, and those with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs)—Reading and Writing results are markedly better when those students attend a school with a librarian and library support staff, according to the research. In fact, they benefit more proportionally than the general student population.
Read more:http://www.elc-pa.org/schoollibraryresearch_alert.html
Attend the research briefing on Oct. 25:http://www.tfaforms.com/258848
View more information on the research project:http://paschoollibraryproject.org/home
Keith Curry Lance PA Study Booklets, Powerpoint and other information are posted on the following website:
http://paschoollibraryproject.org/aecontent.php?pid=289948&sid=3234452.
Model Curriculum For School Library Programs
This summer of group of school librarians worked on writing the Model Curriculum for School Library Programs. The writing team examinedPA Common Core English Language Arts, Reading and Writing in Science and Technical Subjects, Reading and Writing in History and Social Studies and Academic Standards Business, Computer and Technology. The writing team selected the attached list of standards as the basis for the curriculum. This information is being shared with the administrators at four conferences. First conference is Pennsylvania School Boards Association and Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. The next conference will be the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. In November the PSLA will distributing the model curriculum information at the Pennsylvania Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. Cathi Fuhrman and Eileen Kern will be presenting a session at the SAS Institute in December.
More information about the curriculum will be available on the Model Curriculum Website.
It is important that you review the attached document so you can be part of the conversation with your administrators.